Flax-breaking machine.



v PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903.. G. H. ELLIS.

FLAX BREAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22' 1903.

N0 MODEL. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 738,893. PATENTED SEPT. 15,-1903. G. H. ELLIS.

FLAX BREAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED JUNE 22, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED SEPT. 15,.1903. G. H. ELLIS. PLAX BREAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODE-T aw 29% f No. 738,893. PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903.

G. H. ELLIS.

PLAX' BREAKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION TILED JUNE 22, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 7 I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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I UNITED STATES I atented September 15, 1903.

PATENT OFF CE.

GEORGE H. ELLIS, or CHICAGO, I I OIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILL A DEERING, orCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

"JFLAX-BREAKINGMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,893, datedSeptember 15, 1903. Application filed June 22, 1903. Serial No. 162.535.(No model.)

T or. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LGEoRcE H. ELLIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Oook'and State of Illinois,

have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Flax BreakingMachines, of which the following is a complete specification.

It is well understood that grass and other IO foreign substances presentin the flax-straw will unless removed before the breaking operation befound mingled with the fiber, and if not cleaned from the fiber it willvitiate the quality and detract from the appearance of the resultingtwine or manufactured product.

To clean the straw before breaking in the flax-breaker as ordinarilyconstructed requires an additional machine as well as an additionalhandling, and, furthermore, the

principle upon which such flax-breaks operate precludes the introductionof a cleaning or scutching process in connection withthe breakingoperation. In consequence of this fact flax-straw containing grass andother foreign substances after being passed through the breaking-rollersrequires a subsequent scutching. This subsequent scutching in removingthe grass, the top branches of the flax, 850., also removes muchvaluable fiber in the form of tow and constitutes, therefore, Anotherdiffi a Source of considerable loss. culty encountered in machines ofthis class is the fact that the fiber is often formed into a web, andhence is not in a convenient form 5 for subsequent baling and cleaning.The machine constituting the subject of this invention overcomes theabovementioned difficulties in the following respect: First, it operatesupon the straws without diso turbing the relative longitudinal positionof them or the fiber formed therefrom, and thus,

in effect, leaves the fiber in the form of stricks or hanks, in whichcondition it is-in a'convenient form for subsequent handling and 5cleaning; secondly, the novel construction of the machine admits of asimultaneous scutching and cleaning in connection with the breaking ofthe straw, whereby the fiber is prepared more expeditiously andeconomic- 5o ally and the formation of tow in the cleaning practicallyavoided. In addition to the above ing-rollers in series.

Briefly stated, my invention consists in cooperating loops of chain forgrasping the straw intermediate and transverse of its length andconveying it past breaking-rollers and cleaning devices which operateupon the projecting ends while in motion, the said breakingrollers beingrevolubly mounted upon a common axis arranged longitudinally Withrespect to the movement of the chain and operating upon the straw inconjunction with a longitudinally-toothed plate arranged adjacent tosaid grasping-chain.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents aplan view of the complete machine.Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig.3 an end elevation, of same. Fig. 4represents a partial transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 representsa similar partial transverse section taken on the line5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view,partially in section, of thearm of the head carrying the breaking-rollers, showing also thebreaking-roller supported thereby and a portion of the toothedannularsegment. Fig.7showsacorrespond- 8o ing side elevation of same.Fig. 8 is a View in perspective of one of'the sliding blocks which formjournal-bearings from'the breaking-rollers. Fig. 9 represents a sideview of I the toothed annular segment. Fig. 10 is a view in perspective,illustrating the construction of the toothed plate which cooperates withthe breaking-rollers. Fig. 11 represents a partial longitudinal sectionin perspective of the same, the cooperating breaking-rollers beingindicated by dotted lines and'the increasing fineness of the pitch ofthe teeth or flutes being shown. Fig. 12 is a plan section as indicatedby the line 12 12 in Fig. 4, showing the mannerin which'the crosu tiesof the frame are connected with the main sills. Fig. 13 is alongitudinal elevation of a portion of the machine, illustrating themethod of securing a yielding pressure between the contacting parts ofthe grasping- 10o chain. Fig. 14 represents a longitudinal section of anindividual truck of the series shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a planofsame, and Fig. 16 is an enlarged transverse section through twocontacting links of the grasping-chain.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the main frame of the machine,which consists, preferably, of the longitudinally-arranged parallel sidesills a, the vertical supports a, connected therewith, and the crosstiesa thus forming a rigid rectangular frame. Arranged centrally andlongitudinally with respect to the frame of the machine are the severalendless chains forming loops and constituting the grasping-chain. Theforward loops B and B are vertically coincident and cooperativelyrelated with each other, while the rearward loops B and B are similarlyarranged, but in a plane slightly disposed laterally relative to thevertical plane occupied by the forward loops. These several loops of thegrasping-chain are borne and driven by the sprocket-wheels O, which aremounted upon the shafts 0. These shafts a journal in similar bearingssecured to the sills a of the main frame A. The shafts supporting anddriving the lower two loops B and B of the grasping-chain, it will benoticed,are not located directly beneath the corresponding shafts of theupper two loops. Such an arrangement permits of constant contact betweenthe upper and lower loops of the grasping-chain as the chain leaves thesprocket-wheels C notwithstanding the varying radius of the saidsprocket-wheels caused by the comparatively great length of thesprocket-chain links. Each of the twoshafts 0 intermediate of the lengthof the machine supports the inner ends of both the forward and rearwardcorresponding loops, and therefore each shaft bears two sprocket-wheelsrigidly secured thereto. Motion is communicated to the several loops asfollows: A stubshaft 1) is secured to the main frame, and on thisstub-shaft is placed the driving-pulley D. As one piece with this pulleyis the pinion d, meshing with and driving the gear 0, which is rigidlysecured to the rear upper chainsupport shaft 0. The said gear 0 mesheswith the gear 0 which is rigidly secured to the rear lowerchain-supportingshaft c. In this manner motion is communicated to therearward loops B and B and through theintermediate chain-supportingshafts and the sprocket-wheels thereon to the forward loops B and B.

The engaging portions of the cooperating loops are held in yieldingcontact by the means shown in Fig. 2 and in detail in Figs. 13, 14, and15. The upper or engaging portion of the lower loops is held up rigidlyin working position and also in a line by a series ofantifriction-rollers f, which journal on bearings secured to the bar f,which is in turn rigidly connected to the frame of the machine, as shownin Figs 2, 4, or 13. The lower or engaging portion of the upper loops isheld yieldinglyin working position and in contact with the engaging partof the lower loops by devices such as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Here therollers f are journaled on a frame f each frame supporting four rollers.Between the bars f and f (see Fig. 15) is riveted or otherwise secured atransverse connecting memberf, as shown in Fig. 14. A bolt f passingthrough a centrally-located hole in this member and upwardly through acorresponding hole in the frame f and receiving a compression-spring fserves to hold the frame f in contact with the connecting member f andyet permit an upward movement if pressure is applied in that direction.The openingin the frame f is made somewhat larger than the bolt f inorder to admit of a slight longitudinal rocking movement of the saidframe. The boltf is provided with a nut and washer to bear against thespring. By adjustment of the nuts on the bolts f on each of the framesbearing the antifriction rollers any desired degree of pressure can beattained between the engaging portion of the several loops ofgraspingchain, and in this way the flax-straw or material operated uponcan be held firmly therebetween.

The grasping-chain consists of links of considerable length and width,serrated on the surfaces which come in contact with the straw, as shownin Figs. Land 16. Thelinks of the lower loops of the grasping-chain arepreferably made with a double serration, or what might be termed tworows of teeth, longitudinally arrangedand provided with a depressionbetween them. The configuration of these links is clearly illustrated inFig. 16, where 1) represents a section of a link of an upper loop B or Band 1) represents an opposing link of a lower loop B or B b is a toothof the single-serrated row above, and b b are the teeth of thedouble-serrated row below, with the depression between. This depressionreceives the points of the singleserrated teeth in the links of thechain above, and thus forms jaws which will afford a twopoint supportbelow and a one-point support above for the flax-straw lying between.

From the foregoing it willbe seen that if flax-straw is fed to thegrasping-chain, the straw being presented thereto transversely relativeto and intermediate of its length, it will be conveyed rearwardly andthe ends thereof project laterally and be free to be acted upon by thebreaking mechanism. An inspection of Fig. 1 will also reveal the factthat as the straw is passed along between the loops B and B it will beoperated upon by the breaking mechanism adjacent thereto and as itpasses from the loops B and B to the loops B and B it will be grasped bythe latter loops on a portion of the stalk already acted upon by thesaid breaking mechanism.

broken portion of the stalk will thus be free to be acted upon by thesecond set of breaking-rollers.

The un- The essence'of the invention lies chiefly in the novelty of theconstruction of the breaking mechanism, which will now be described.

Journaled in suitable bearings on the upper cross-ties a at the forwardend of the main frame A, is the shaft E, extending longitndinally withrespect to the frame of the machine and parallel with thegrasping-chain. Rigidly secured to the ends of this shaft E are thespiders E, provided with a series of radiating arms 9, in which arejournaled at the free ends thereof the breaking-rollers e,which, extendbetween and are supported by corresponding arms of each spider. Theconnection betweenthe said arms and breaking-rollers is effected bymeans of a sliding box 6 in which journals the shafts of the severalrollers, the sliding box being positively limited in its outwardmovement and yieldingly restrained from movement in the oppositedirection by the spring e as shown in Figs. 4, 5,and 6.Preferablyalternatelydisposed relative to the arms e, which support thebreaking-rollers e, are the arms e on the free ends of which arepivotally mounted the scutching-blades e Stops e limit the forward oroutward swing of these blades, the arrangement being such that the outeredges of the several blades approach but do not reach actnal contactwith the grooved or toothed plate G, and the coil-springs e areinterposed be tween shoulders on said arms 6 and the scutcher-blades,which operate to press the blades against the said stops a The plate Gis of a curvature corresponding to the path of movement of thebreaking-rollers c, with which it is adapted to mesh. This plate issecured to the longitudinal sills a and a, which in turn are bolted tothe cross-ties 0. as shown in Fig. 4. The teeth ofthe breakers, as wellas the teeth of the plates, are graduated correspondingly in fineness,as shown in Fig. 11, the rearward portion of the plates, 0perativelyconsidered, having teeth of a finer pitch than those on the forward end,as is onstomary in flax-breaks. The plates G are secured to the sills aand a by means of bolts through the lugs g. Apertnres g are provided inthe plate G between the teeth to allow the shives resulting from thebreaking to escape therethrough. As this toothed plate G constitutesonly a segment of a complete circular form, it becomes necessary tocontrol the movement of the breaking-rollers when not engaged therewith,and thus insure a proper engagement of the said breakingrollers whencoming in mesh with said toothed plate. This is accomplished byplacingasegment H of an internal gear in a position to complete thecircular form of which the toothed plate forms a part. A small gap isleft, as shown in Fig. 5, for the introduction of the flax-straw, butnot of a snfficient width, however, to disturb the proper relative posi-A side elevation of this tion of the rollers.

A corresponding set of breaking-rollers, scutchers, toothed plate,8210., is arranged on the opposite side of communicated to thebreaking-rollers by means of a belt leading from the source of power andpassing around the pulley E on the shaft E.

It is evident that the toothed plate need not be placed below the levelof the straw operated upon, for the effect would be the same should theybe placed above and the breaking-rollers revolved in the oppositedirection. Neither is it necessary to preserve any definite number ofbreaking-rollers, for a greater or less number would accomplish the sameresults.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Flax-straw is presented byany means to the grasping-chain intermediate of and transverselyrelative to its length. The chain holds the straw tightly, leaving theends projecting laterally therefrom, and conveys it along the toothedplates. The breaking-rollers, revolving rapidly in the directionindicated by the arrows, come in contact with the straw adjacent to thechain. The internal gear-segment and the toothed plate itself cause eachbreaking-roller to rotate in a direction as indicated by the arrow inFig. 4c and in a direction with respect to its own axis opposite to thatof the spiders carrying the rollers, the movement being the same as inepicyclic gearing. As the straw passes over the toothed plate it isalternately subjected to the action of the breaking-rollers andscutching-blades until the stalk is relieved of its waste portion andthe fiber alone remains, the shives dropping through the apertures g insaid plate or brushed from the side thereof by the scutchers. Theefiectiveness of the scutching-blades is increased and their actionfacilitated by the broken straws springing up from the grooves, as shownin Fig. 4:. As the breaking-roller passes over the stalks the extralength taken up by the crimping received is drawn from the free end, andas the breaking-roller leaves the straw the grasping chain, advancingtransversely relative to the movement of the said roller, will exert atendency to straighten the crimp of the straw and to pull it out of thegrooves, thus bringing it to a position where it will be moresusceptible to the action of the scutching-blades. As the grooves orteeth in the plate and rollers increase in fineness as the breakingoperation proceeds, it will result in a complete breaking and cleaning.The straw is then passed to the second set of coacting loops, whichgrasp it on the part already cleaned, thus leaving the free end to besimilarly treated by the second' set of breaking-rollers, after whichthe straw is deposited in the rear of the machine in parallelevenly-disposed stricks or bunches.

IIO

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a flax-breaking machine, in combination means for grasping,holding and conveying the straw transversely relative to its length, alongitudinally-toothed plate arranged adjacent thereto, over which passthe projecting ends of the straw being operated upon, a series ofrevolving correspondinglytoothed breaking-rollers operating inconjunction therewit-h, and means for driving the said grasping, holdingand conveying de- .vice and the said breaking-rollers, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a flax-breaking machine, in combination means for grasping,holding and conveying the straw transversely relative to its length, alongitudinallytoothed plate arranged adjacent thereto, over which passthe projecting ends of the straw being operated upon, the teeth of saidplate progressively increasing in fineness, a series of revolvingcorrespondingly-toothed breaking-rollers operating in conjunctiontherewith, and means for driving the said grasping, holding andconveying device and the said breaking-rollers, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a flax-breaking machine, in combination cooperatin g loops ofendless chain adapted to grasp the flax-straw and conveyit transverselyof its length, leaving the free ends projecting laterally therefrom, aseries of breaking-rollers rotatably mounted on independent axes andcollectively mounted to revolve about a common axis, said axis beinglongitudinally disposed relative to the movement of said endless chains,and the breaking-rollers being located to operate adjacent thereto,means for driving the said endless chains and breaking-rollers and alongitudinally-toothed plate located adjacent to the said endless chainsand adapted to operate upon the flax-straw in conjunction with the saidbreaking-rollers.

at. In a machine for decorticating the straw of flax or other exogenousplants, a breaking device comprising a plurality of toothed rollersrevolubly mounted upon a common axis, and a correspondingly-toothedplate operating in conjunction with said rollers, a yielding movementbeing provided between said plate and rollers, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a machine for decorticating the straw of flax or other exogenousplants, a breaking device comprising a plurality of toothed rollersrevolubly and yieldingly mounted upon a common axis,and acorrespondingly-toothed plate operating in conjunction with saidrollers, substantially as described.

6. In a flax-breaking machine, in combination a grasping-chain adaptedto hold the straw and convey it transversely relative to its length,scutching-blades and breakingrollers adapted to operate upon the strawwhile being conveyed by and in the grasp of said chain, and a toothedplate operating in conjunction with said scutching-blades andbreaking-rollers.

'7. In a flax-breaking machine, in combination a grasping-chain adaptedto hold the straw and convey it transversely relative to its length,scutching-blades and breakingrollers adapted to operate simultaneouslyupon the straw while being conveyed by and in the grasp of said chain,and a toothed plate operating in conjunction with said scutchingbladesand breaking-rollers.

8. In a flax-breaking machine, in combination a grasping-chain adaptedto hold the straw and convey it transversely relative to its length,scutching-blades and breakingrollers adapted to operate upon the strawwhile being conveyed by and in the grasp of said chain, the saidscutching-blades and breaking-rollers having their axes of movementcoincident, and a toothed plate operating in conjunction therewith.

9. In a machine for decorticating the straw of flax or other exogenousplants, a breaking device comprising a plurality of toothed rollersrevolubly mounted upon a common axis, and a correspondingly-toothedplate operating in conjunction with said rollers, substantially asdescribed.

Signed at Chicago this 8th day of June,

GEORGE II. ELLIS. In presence of- T. H. ALFREDS, D. E. LOCKERT.

